It is easy to spot the scoundrel in a cartoon. He or she is usually dressed in dark or outlandish clothing and looks like a villain. Scrooge in The Christmas Carol is a scoundrel. Cruella de Vil in 101 Dalmatians is a scoundrel.
Am I a scoundrel? Are you a scoundrel?
How the early day laborers in the vineyard envy the end of the day laborers. The last ones only work an hour, and the owner makes them equal to those who work all day. St. Matthew teaches his own community a lesson about the generosity of salvation. Made up of Jews and Greeks, St. Matthew’s community members fight over who gets a higher place in the kingdom. One side says we are God’s chosen ones who believe in Christ, we go first. The other side says, we are the new chosen ones and we go first.
In the words of the prophet Isaiah, “God does not think like us. God does not act like us.” God is admirable. Everyone is equal in the kingdom of heaven. If we think differently, Isaiah says, we are scoundrels.
The word, “equality” is difficult to find in our vocabulary these days in the United States. It means, “equal opportunity,” and “impartiality.” It implies that you and I are on the same level of relationship. This is how God works. But we humans demand quid pro quo. We say, “I was here first.” We say, “I worked the longest.” We say, “I studied the hardest.” We say, “I am the better Catholic, the better Christian, the better American.” When someone does better than me, or gets paid more than me, I give them the evil eye.
We all know about the evil eye. It is that look, that gaze and that unforgiveable appearance on someone’s face when a person is very displeased with us. Historically, the evil eye can be traced back to antiquity. Basically, it is an ancient belief that people can fall under a spell or be affected by the malevolent gaze of the person who possesses the “evil eye.” People say the person is “cursed.” Bad health or bad luck may result of this “evil eye.” The evil eye comes from avarice and envy and when people are envious we can see it in their eyes.
St. Gregory the Great names the evil eye as “murmuring.” St. Benedict tells us that murmuring, a.k.a.; “grumbling” destroys the fabric of society. Much of the political climate of the United States today is filled with grumbling. It is the work of scoundrels; it is not the work of Christians.
God’s grace is generous, so must we be generous. God’s grace is equally poured out, so must we be poured out. At the moment of our dying breaths, when we wait in line to join the Communion of Saints, even if we still have questions or doubts, God will surprise us even at the last hour.
So, scoundrels, forsake your ways!
The Rev. Fr. Dr. T. Becket A. Franks, O.S.B.
25th Sunday Ordinary Time
Becketmonk 
Never underestimate the power of a schnook.